Board profiles | QCOSS Annual Report 2023-2024

Board profiles

The QCOSS Board

Matt Gardiner

QCOSS Board Chair

BSocSc (Couns), M.Clin.Couns., Grad.Dip. Strategic Leadership, MAICD, FIML

Passionate about social justice, improving systems and therapeutic practice, Matt is an experienced practitioner and has held senior executive roles at some of Australia's leading not-for-profits. He currently serves as a director of several companies and governmental advisory committees. He is proud to contribute to the ongoing strength of QCOSS in its strategic objectives and to represent members across the state.

Currently, Matt’s primary role is CEO of 54 reasons (Save The Children’s Australian services division), leading a large, professional workforce across every state and territory. He has a background in relationship and trauma counselling, disability, child protection, mental health, family law mediation, violence prevention and community development. His experience has included several Social Impact Investments, including leading Australia’s first Social Impact Bond to mature, and he has negotiated several innovative Payment By Outcome (PBO), based on risk/return modelling across a range of sectors. Matt has led mergers and acquisitions in several sectors and segments and enjoys leading through cultural and business transformation.

Colleen Tribe

Board member

Dip Ed, B.Ed, Grad Dip Special Ed, Grad Cert Specialised Leadership, MAICD

After serving nearly a decade in the General Manager role at Roseberry Qld (Central Qld region), Colleen is proud of the success she was able to achieve, leading the organisation to the very prominent position it holds within the social sector. Having relocated to Brisbane, Colleen is still focused on ensuring regional issues and interests are highlighted, while serving on the QCOSS Board.

Colleen is currently working in the education sector, where she is able to bring her experience and perspective from the NFP and social sector. Colleen works within the curriculum area and is passionate to ensure best possible outcomes and potential are achieved for our children and young people - our children need great teachers in their lives, to inspire and motivate them.

Having had an array of experience on boards, and now moving into her last period, with the QCOSS Board, Colleen has enjoyed working with such a talented and dedicated group of people. QCOSS will forever hold a special place in her life.

Prof. Bronwyn Fredericks

Board member

Dip. T(Sec), B.Educ, M.Educ, M.EducStudies, PhD along with two VET qualifications (Cert IV TAE and a Cert IV in Community Culture)

Bronwyn is a Professor and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) at the University of Queensland (UQ). She was previously the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) UQ, and before that the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) at Central Queensland University (CQU).

In 2016, Bronwyn was appointed as the Presiding Commissioner with the Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) to lead the Inquiry into service delivery in Queensland’s remote and discrete Indigenous communities. She worked on the Inquiry into manufacturing, the Inquiry into Imprisonment and Recidivism in Queensland (2019) and the Queensland Recycling Review (2019).

Bronwyn has worked for both state and federal levels of government and has a long history of direct involvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-based organisations spanning over 30 years. She was Chairperson of the Bidgerdii Community Health Service for some nine years, a Director of Anglicare Central Queensland, Link-Up (Qld), has assisted in the establishment of community organisations, and served on numerous community committees in Central Queensland, Ipswich, Brisbane and at state and national levels.

Bronwyn is a member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Research Advisory Committee, the Beyond Blue National Research Advisory Committee, the Queensland Archives Committee, a judge for some of Queensland’s leading awards, and participates on numerous other Queensland and national annual awards committees. Professor Fredericks has served as a member of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) College of Experts for two terms, is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science of Australia (FASSA) and Australian Academy of Humanities (AAH).

Bronwyn is noted for her community-based research and translating research outcomes along with her strong practice-based commitment to social justice, and improving Indigenous health, education, and life outcomes.

Kevin Mercer

Board member

B.Com, MBA, GAICD, FCEOI

Kevin Mercer is the CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland. He joined in February 2019 with more than 30 years of experience in management across a range of sectors, including 10 years in the aged care, community care, disability and retirement living sectors.

Kevin has also held management positions in marketing, business development and logistics in a range of industries including retail, manufacturing, consulting, telecommunications, and energy sectors.

Kevin has served as the Chief Executive Aged and Community Care of Mercy Health Australia, and as the Chief Executive Officer of Holy Spirit Care Services.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accountancy and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Canterbury. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the CEO Institute of Australia. Kevin has also completed Catholic Health Australia’s Ministry Leadership Program.

He has a strong sense of social justice and a life-long passion for learning to improve the lives of those experiencing disadvantage. Kevin has been a Director of QCOSS since April 2019.

Linda McClelland

Board member

B. Arts, Grad Cert in Housing Management & Policy, Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management, Diploma of Management, Diploma of Quality Auditing

Linda is a regional member and has worked with and on boards within the not-for-profit sector for over 35 years. As CEO of Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre, she has grown the centre into the lead community service provider in the Hinchinbrook area.

Her organisations HUB of community services is not restricted to providing services that are funded, but rather what services her community needs. She is a staunch supporter of regional and rural communities and actively promotes their voice to create change.

At a strategic level, she has contributed to the development of community sector training, the recognition of Queensland neighbourhood centres through regional and state neighbourhood centres networks, and the needs of the housing sector through the Townsville Housing & Homelessness Network.

Lee-Anne Simpson

Board member

B.Arts, B.Business (Mgmt) (Hons), Graduate Certificate in Management

Lee-Anne is currently a Regional Manager with Carers Queensland delivering Local Area Coordination Services for the National Disability Insurance Scheme across Central Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Gympie, Cooloola and Moreton Bay regions.

Lee-Anne has held several senior management positions across a range of community service organisations and developed partnerships and networks with a diverse range of stakeholders to deliver collaborative projects. She has worked in both service delivery and policy development across a range of project streams including, child protection, domestic and family violence services, family and relationship services and disability services.

Throughout Lee-Anne’s 25-year history working in the community services sector, she remains committed to championing equitable access to services in regional, remote, and rural communities and advocating for community organisations to receive the funding and support they need to deliver them.

Faiza El-Higzi OAM

Board member

BSc (Hons), Grad.Dip Pjt Mgt, MAppSc, MEd. PhD JP(Qual)

Faiza is a academic and a recognised practitioner in social change, with over 20 years’ experience in advancing equity, inclusion and transformative community development. Her impactful contributions have earned her state and national recognition. She is a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal (2020) and the Queensland Government Multicultural Award for Outstanding Individual (2018).

Currently, Faiza is the Deputy Chair of the Cultural Inclusion Council at the University of Queensland, and an advisor to the Queensland government on Domestic and Family Violence, Multiculturalism and Health equity. In these roles, she drives the inclusion of equity agenda in critical social policy initiatives. As Chair of the Ethnic Broadcasting Association Queensland, she champions initiatives for diverse voices in media, enabling representation and inclusivity.

Faiza’s strategic policy expertise spans state and federal government roles, complemented by her significant work in the NGO sector on community development, refugee settlement, and youth engagement. Her extensive academic qualifications in architecture, project management, international business, education, and gender studies empower her to approach social advancement with a comprehensive and impactful perspective.

Faiza continues scholarly contributions at the University of Queensland, while more broadly actively shaping policy and practice to foster a more equitable society demonstrating the importance of leadership and vision in driving systemic change and empowering communities.

Alvin Hava

Board member (Appointed 10 November 2022)

B.Applied Health Science (Indigenous Health), Advanced Dipl. Management, and a Cert IV in Youth Work, Indigenous Primary Health Care, Assessment and Training and Mental Health

Alvin is the General Manager of Mithangkaya Nguli Young People Ahead Youth and Community Services Indigenous Corporation, based on Kalkadoon Nation in the mining city of Mount Isa, and has been in this role for more than 12 years.

Alvin has a career spanning over 30 years working in the social health and community services sector, with a passion for working with First Nation children, youth and their families to address underlying social determinants to health and wellbeing.

Alvin was previously a Board Director at several Queensland peak bodies, namely the Workforce Health and Community Council, the Youth Affairs Network of Queensland, and more recently with the Queensland Youth Housing Coalition. Alvin is committed to ensuring children and young people’s voices are heard, and that true commitments to have them involved in important decision making are adhered to and valued, as they are the future leaders of Australia.

Annette Schoone

Company Secretary

GAICD, CPHR

Annette holds the role of Company Secretary. Annette is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds qualifications in Human Resources, Community Service Management, Community Development and Project Management, coupled with more than 25 years’ experience in management and leadership positions, strategy and operations, governance, and service management gained in local government and the not-for-profit sectors.

Aimee McVeigh

Chief Executive Officer

B.Laws, B.Communications, Post Grad Dip in Legal Practice, Master International and Public Law, GAICD

Aimee is QCOSS’ Chief Executive Officer, and a strong advocate for equality, opportunity and wellbeing for all Queenslanders. As a lawyer and human rights advocate, Aimee led the successful campaign for a Human Rights Act for Queensland and was a founding director of Disability Law Queensland.

Prior to joining QCOSS, Aimee worked in various senior and advisory roles, including at the Disability Royal Commission and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal and Advocacy Service.

Aimee has been engaged by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples as a gender advisor and has worked with a number of non-profit organisations in Queensland, including during the Child Abuse Royal Commission.  Aimee was also a state finalist for the 2017 Australian of the Year Awards, and a finalist for the 2019 Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Medal.

Board and committee meetings

The Board met nine times during the financial year and made one decision out of session.

The finance and audit committee met three times and the governance committee met four times.